Bougainvillea plant named ‘Vista4’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Bougainvillea plant cultivar named ‘Vista4’ is disclosed, characterized by foliage variegated dark green and yellow-green. Plants are compact and very floriferous. The new variety is a Bougainvillea, typically produced as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Bougainvillea communis.

Variety denomination: ‘Vista4’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the product of chance discovery. The new variety originated as naturally occurring whole plant mutation of the unpatented variety Bougainvillea communis ‘Juanita Hatten’. The inventor discovered the variety in a commercial planting of the parent variety in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico in June of 2016.

After identifying the interesting flower color mutation, the inventor observed the single plant mutation for several months. First propagation was performed by terminal vegetative cuttings at a commercial greenhouse during July 2016, in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico. Access to all plants was restricted, as plants were kept in a facility belonging to the inventor and not open to the public.

Through subsequent propagation by vegetative cuttings, multiple generations have been reproduced, which have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Vista4’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Vista4’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Vista4’ as a new and distinct Bougainvillea cultivar:

-   1. Compact growth habit. -   2. Variegated foliage, dark green with yellow-green. -   3. Abundant flowering, more flowers than typical of variegated     varieties.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Vista4’ are similar to the parent, in most horticultural characteristics. The new variety, however, produces variegated foliage, the parent variety has solid green foliage.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of ‘Vista4’ are similar in some horticultural characteristics to the variety Bougainvillea ‘Fantasy Red’, unpatented. The new variety, however, differs in the following:

-   1. The new variety dark green with lighter green or yellow-green     variegation. ‘Fantasy Red’ has foliage which is medium green with     cream variegation. -   2. Plants of the new variety are more floriferous.

Plants of ‘Vista4’ are similar in most horticultural characteristics to the variety Bougainvillea ‘Bengal Red’, unpatented. The new variety, however, differs in the following:

-   1. The new variety dark green with lighter green or yellow-green     variegation. ‘Bengal Red’ has foliage which is medium green with     cream margins. -   2. Plants of the new variety are more floriferous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘Vista4’ grown outdoors at a commercial nusrery in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico. This plant is approximately 4 months old, shown in an 8 inch pot.

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe a ‘Vista4’ plant. This plant was grown in a greenhouse in a commercial 6 inch pot, in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico. The plant described is approximately 5 months old and consists of 3 rooted cuttings in 1 pot. Temperatures ranged from 15° C. at night and 18° C. to 24° C. during the day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Bougainvillea communis ‘Vista4’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: 14-21 days at approximately 25° C. -   Root description: Roots are fine, fibrous and well branched. -   Time to produce a rooted plant: Approximately 6 to 12 weeks. -   Root color: Near Grey-Brown 199D and Greyed-Yellow 161D.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: This plant is an upright tender perennial, suitable     for indoor ornamental use, or outdoor garden use in warm climates. -   Pot size of plant described: 6 inch. -   Height: 20 cm. -   Plant spread: 30 cm. -   Main stem color: Near RHS Brown N200C. -   Main stem texture: Mainly smooth, minimal scaly texture. -   Branching characteristics: Not free branching, moderate branching     can be achieved with pinching. -   Length of primary lateral branches: 10-15 cm. -   Quantity of primary lateral branches: 3 per plant. -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately. 0.3 to 0.4 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Grey 201B.         -   Texture.—Slightly rough, minimally scaly. -   Internode length: 1.0 cm to 2.0 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 6 per branch on a 6 month old plant.         -   Average length.—Average range about 4.5 cm to 7.5 cm.         -   Average width.—Average range about 2.5 cm to 4.0 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Obovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth.         -   Appearance of top surface.—Matte.         -   Appearance of bottom surface.—Matte.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A, with a             large, mainly central blotch near Yellow-Green 144C and             N144B. Young foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137C, with a             central blotch near Yellow-Green N144D and N144B. Mature             foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A, with a large,             mainly central blotch near Yellow-Green 144C and N144B.             Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137B, with a             central blotch near Yellow-Green N144D and N144B.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS             Yellow-Green N144B. Venation color under side: RHS             Yellow-Green N144B.         -   Petiole.—Length: Average 1.0 cm to 2.8 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm.             Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green N144A. Texture: Smooth. -   Other Characteristics: -   Thorns: One thorn occurs above a node. A thorn is not always     present, sometimes no thorn above leaf or node. Thorn is pointed     upwards; Young thorns are more flexible and less sharp. Old thorns     are very sharp, strong and woody.     -   -   Average thorn length.—Mature thorn approximately 2.0 cm.         -   Average thorn width at base.—0.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Needlelike.         -   Thorn curvature.—None, straight.         -   Thorn coloration.—Young thorns near RHS Greyed-Orange 163B.             Old thorns RHS Greyed-Green 197B.

FLOWER

-   Normal flowering period: Continuously from early Spring through Fall     in Puerto Rico. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Form.—Axillary, compact cyme.         -   Width of entire inflorescence.—Average 10 to 12 cm.         -   Height of entire inflorescence.—Average 8.0 cm.         -   Quantity of individual flowers in inflorescence.—Avg. 5 to 9             on a 5 month old plant. -   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 10 days. -   Quantity of inflorescence per plant: Avg. 6 to 12. -   Quantity of bract clusters: High density. Floriferous plants. -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Length.—0.4 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 60C. -   Individual true flower:     -   -   Form/type.—Single, tubular flowers growing from the base of             a single bract. The flowers have no petals or sepals. The             individual true “flower” is small, and each cluster of three             flowers is surrounded by three bracts. Sometimes the cluster             consists of more flowers but the number of bracts is nearly             always 3.         -   Diameter.—0.7 cm.         -   Depth.—0.3 cm.         -   Days lasting on plant.—Approximately one week. -   Petals: No petals. -   Bracts:     -   -   Days lasting on plant.—Approximately 10, self-cleaning.         -   Type.—Single.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Length.—4.5 cm.         -   Width.—3.8 cm.         -   Tip.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Aspect.—Moderately undulating.         -   Color.—Under side of immature bract: RHS Red-Purple 61A.             Upper side of immature bract: RHS Red-Purple 61A. Under side             of mature bract: Between RHS Red-Purple N66B and N74A. Upper             side of mature bract: Between RHS Red-Purple N66B and N74A.             Bract vein color on under side: RHS Red-Purple N74A. Bract             vein color on upper side: RHS Red-Purple N74A. -   Sepals: No sepals observed. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—Average range 2.0 to 5.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Angle.—Approximately 45° to the lateral branch.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 150C. -   Pedicels:     -   -   Arrangement.—Individual flowers in whorls of 3, together on             pedicels. Each individual flower sessile, implanted in a             colorful bract.         -   Length.—1.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Angle.—Average angle of 15 degrees.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C. -   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—Average 8. -   Anthers:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 mm.         -   Color.—Near Orange-White 159C.         -   Pollen.—Color RHS Orange-White 159D. Quantity: Scant. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—0.5 cm.         -   Style.—Length: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 145C.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Linear. Color: Near RHS Yellow Green 146C.             Ovary Color: Near RHS Yellow Green 145B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Seed production not observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates high temperatures to at least 35     degrees Celsius. Frost is not tolerated. When roots are frozen     completely, the plant will not recover. -   Drought tolerance: No drought tolerance. Leaves and bracts will drop     off the plant immediately under dry conditions. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Bougainvillea plant named ‘Vista4’ as herein illustrated and described. 